Portable refrigerator



Jan. 2 1936'. A. LIMPERT 2,029,175

PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Filed Dec. 4, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1936- s. A. LIMPE'RT PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Fi led Dec. 4, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pa tented Jan. 28, 1936 PORTABLE nEFmGEaa'roa Sylvester A. Limpert, Bay Shore, N. Y., acsignor to Mechana Kold Corporation, Bay Shore, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 4, 1933, Serial No. 100,789

9 Claims.

This invention pertains to the art of refrigeration, and relates more specifically to that type of self-contained portable refrigerators that comprises a box or cabinet containing a freezing coil, a machine for compressing, condensing and circulating through the freezing coil a refrigerating agent, a cellular water holder for making ice cubes, and space for the reception of bottled beverages and articles of food to be kept at a low temperature.-

Domestic refrigerators of this type have hitherto taken the form of. a relatively tall and narrow cabinet provided with a vertically hinged front door, a horizontally slidable tray for the-ice cubes within or adjacent to the freezing coil, and

housed in a bottom compartment of the cabinet I and no particular attention being paid to external appearance of the unit, since it is regarded more as a machine performing a useful food preserving function than as an article of furniture and is usually located in the kitchen or on a back porch or vestibule.

Thearticle of the present invention has been designed more particularly for use in apartment hotels, small apartments, and the like, where the living space is very limited, and one ject has been to provide a domestic refrigerator in. the form of a neat and attractive article of furniture that may be located inthe living or dining room and will have the appearance in effect of a chest that, with or without cushions, may serve as a I have illustrated one practical and approved embodiment of the invention and wherein Fig. 1- is a vertical section of the refrigerator chest on the line" I-l of Fig. 3, with the lid'or cover raised.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation viewed from the left of Figs. 1 and 3 and showing the lid closed, with a portion of the end wall broken out.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the offset line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the refrigerant condenser.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the freezing unit.

Fig. 6 .is a perspective view of a vertically insertible and removable ice cube tray fitting within the freezingunit of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a vertically insertible and removable food tray.

Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, illustrate an improved form of freezing unit; Fig. 8 being a perspective view of the casing; Fig. 9 being a perspective view of the removable tray; Fig. 10 being a side elevation of the unit showing the tray partly withdrawn; Fig. 11 being a vertical section on the line llll of Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 being a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 2-l2 of Fig. 9,.enlarged.

Referring now to the drawings for a detail description of the article, l0 designates as an enseat, its mechanical character and function as when it is open.

Another object had in view in the design of the present invention has been to provide a portable domestic refrigerator of very compact form so as to occupy but small, space in the living quarters of the ,user, to design a construction and arrangement of freezing unit and food holders that will allow easy access to and replacement of the ice cubes, and the articles of food and drink, to provide a construction that will conserve the cold air when the refrigerator is opened, and to provide a construction that will practically eliminateall noise and vibration when the ice making equipment isin operation.

Still other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons familiar with this class of refrigerator from the 'ceive an ornamental exterior finish.

. at 12 in Fig. 1, and equipped with the usual fold -'ing braces 13 to support it in open position.

mounted an electric motor designated as an en- P tirety by 2 i and on the latter of which is mounted a gas compressor designated as an entirety by 22. As best shown in Fig. 3, the motor 2| drives the compressor 22 by a small pulley 23 fast on the armature shaft of the motor, a large I pulley 24 fast on the compressor shaft, and a drive belt 25.

Directly behind the compressor 22 is a condenser coil 26 supported in.a suitable rack 21,

also mounted on the platform I1, and between the motor and compressor is similarly mounted a refrigerant tank 28.

Referring to Fig. 3, the .walls of the larger compartment l5, including its lid or cover, are lined, first with a relatively thick body of insulation, such as wood fiber, felt, cork, or the like, indicated at 29, and this latter is covered with a water-tight metal lining 30 that, in the case of the body, may form a sweet water tank for the immersion of bottled beverages for rapid cooling. The walls of the smaller compartment l6. are pref erably lined with sound deadening material I6 such as insulite or celotex. On the partition wall l4 within the compartment I is mounted the freezing unit. 3|, one side wall of which is overlaid by a freezing coil 32, the turns of which are flattened and held in place by a plate 33. A convenient means of mounting the freezing unit which permits circulation of air over both sides thereof, consists of a pair of bars 34 extending vertically along the outer side of the unit and bolted to the lining on the wall l4.

The discharge from the compressor 22 leads through a pipe 35 into the upperend of the condenser coil 26, and from the lower end of the latter the refrigerant flows through pipe 36 into the bottom of the refrigerant tank 28. From thelatter the refrigerant flows through pipe 31 and expansion valve 31' into the upper end of the freezing coil 32, in which latter it expands. From the lower end of the freezing coil 32, the gas returns by pipe 38, equipped with the usual thermostat bulb and switch (not shown) to the intake side of the compressor 22.

Vertically slidablewithin the casing of thefreezing unit 3| is a tray 39 equipped with a plurality of shelves 40 each adapted to receive and support alc'ellular pan to hold the water that is frozen into ice cubes. This tray 39 is equipped with a top handle 4| by which it may be readily inserted and withdrawn, and the shelves 40 are formed on their rear sides with back stops 40' limiting the inward sliding movement of the ice cube holders;

42 designates'as an entirety a food tray comprising, as shown in Fig. '7, vertical end frames 43, a plurality of wire shelves 44, and a handle 45, this food tray being designed to fit neatly between opposite side walls of the larger compartment l5, preferably in the position shown in Fig. 3. Both the freezing unit 3| and the food tray 42 are relatively deep and narrow, so that ample space between the two is lef for the insertionof bottled beverages or other articles too large to be carried by the food tray.

Referring to Fig. 1, the refrigerating capacity of the chest is further increased by shortening the vertical dimensions of the compressor and motor sufliciently to permit of the insertion of a pan 46 supported on brackets 41, said pan being well adapted to support small articles and leave the basket or tray 42 for the reception of larger articles. This also provides a dead air space at the top of the machine compartment that preventsthe flow of heat from the machine compartment to the lid, the latter often serving as a seat. I

The cooling of the condenser coil 26 is, in the equipment illustrated, effected by forming in the rear side wall of the chest, directly behind the condenser, an opening 48, preferably covered by a grill 49, and forming in the end wall of the chest, directly opposite the motor 2|, a similar opening 50 covered by a grill 5|, and equipping the armature shaft of the motor with a propeller fan 52, which latter maintains a continuous flow of outside air across the condenser, and over the compressor, refrigerant tank and motor, the air being discharged into the room through the grill 5|. This not only air cools the condenser, but it also abstracts the heat of compression and the internal heat generated by the motor, thereby to that extent enhancing the efiiciency of the freezing unit. The ends of the cabinet are equipped with handles 53 to facilitate portability. In Figs. 8 .to 12, inclusive, I have illustrated a somewhat more efficient form of freezing unit than that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and, like they latter, well designed to serve a refrigerator of this type wherein the access to the interior is through the open top of the refrigerator casing. The casing of this improved freezing unit comprises a relatively long and narrow box 55 pref erably formed on its upper edge with a flange 56. Both side walls of the box 55 are overlaid by freezing coils 51 preferably of the flattened or oval type shown in Fig. 11. One of these coils is served by an inflow pipe 58, and the other coil is served by a cross-over pipe 59 (Fig. 11) extending across the bottom wall of the box 55 and communicating with said other freezing coil, this latter communic'atingat its other end with a discharge pipe 60. The two freezing coils are covered by detach able'side plates 6| preferably equipped with'stiffening ribs 82 and secured to the box 55 as by screws 63; thebox itself being provided with lateral lugs 54, by which it may be attached to vertical strips on a side wall of the chamber I5 as by screws 65. The tray 66 is generally similar to that previously described and shown in Fig. 6, but is preferably a one-piece open front frame formed with a side wall 68 and shelves 69. To look the pans in place on the tray when inserting or withdrawing the latter, I equip the two vertical corners onthe open side or front. of the latter with shiftableguards, preferably in the form of pivoted angle strips 15; one limb of the angle strip having top and bottom bent portions 1| overlapping the top and bottom horizontal members of the tray and pivoted thereto at 12. Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 (in full lines) show the locking position of the guard strip, confining the pan P both sidewise and endwise on its shelf. When the pan'is to be inserted or withdrawn, the guard strips are simply, swung to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12. To insure a close contact of the rearwall E8 of the tray with the adjacent wallof the box 55 for good heat exchange, the strips 13 are preferably equipped with bow springs 13 that engage with the opposite wall of the box 55 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 11. The tray is equipped with a lid or cover 51 normally resting on the casing flange 56, and with a handle 4|.

The last described structure of freezing unit Patent no. 2,029,175.

contents of which can be easily gotten at by mere- 1 y raising the lid H; and at the same time when the lid is closed, the article has the appearance of a simplepiece of furniture in the nature of a chest which can also be utilized as a seat. The insulation of the compressor and motor, and the lining. of the walls of the machine chamber, effectually absorb all noise and vibration, so that a, visitor unacquainted with the real nature of the article would never suspect that the article was a. mechanical ice' box. The cabinet being opened from the top, prevents the cold air there in from falling .out every time the cabinet is opened, which makes for greater economy.

I claim:

l. A, portable refrigerator of the character described, comprising a chest having a top lid and a transverse partition dividing the body of the chest into two compartments, refrigerant circulating means mounted in one of said compartments, and a freezing unit mounted in the other compartment and pipe connected to said circulating means, said freezing unit comprising a relatively narrow and deep box open at its top, and an ice cube tray vertically insertible and removable through the open upper end of said box.

2. A portable refrigerator of the character described, comprising a chest having a top lid and a transverse partition dividing the body of the chest into relatively small and large compartments, refrigerant circulating means mounted in said small compartment, and a freezing unit mounted in said large compartment on said partition and pipe connected to said circulating means, said freezing unit comprising a relatively narrow and deep box open at its top and having the expansion coil in a 'wall thereof, and an ice cube tray vertically insertible and removable through the open upper end of said box.

3. A portable refrigerator of the character described, comprising a rectangular chest having a top lid and a transverse partition dividing the body of the chest: into relatively small and large compartments, refrigerant circulating means mounted in said small compartment, a relatively narrow and deep freezing unit mounted in said large compartment on said partition and pipe connected to said circulating means, and a re.- movable food tray in said large. compartment fitting between the side walls of the latter.

4. A portable refrigerator of the character described, comprising a. rectangular chest having ing an open top casing equipped with means for a top lid and a transverse partition dividing the body of the chest into relatively small and large compartments, refrigerant circulating means mounted in said small compartment, a relatively narrow and deep freezing unit mounted in said 5 large compartment on said partition and pipe connected to said circulatingmeans, and a removable food. tray in said large compartment fitting between the side walls of the latter, the combined widths of said freezingunit and food tray being substantially less'than the length of said large compartment.

5. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, comprising an open top casing equipped with refrigerant flow means in a wall thereof, a tray insertible 5 and removable through the open top of said cas- 1 ing, and spring means pressing said tray against said casing wall.

6. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, comprising an open top casing having a refrigerating g0 coil in a side wall thereof, a tray insertible and I removable through the open top of said casing, and springs between the opposite side wall of said casing and the tray pressing the latter into contact with said first named side wall. 7. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, comprising an open top casing equipped withmeans for cooling the walls thereof, an open front tray having oneor more shelves insertible and removable through the open top of said casing, and shiftable guards on the open front of said tray for preventing articles on the shelves from sliding off the latter. Y

8. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, compriscooling the walls thereof; an open front tray having one or more shelves insertible and removable through the open top of said casing, pivoted guard strips on the front corners of said tray for preventing articles 'on the shelves from sliding 40 off the latter. I

9. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, comprising an open top casing equipped with means for cooling the walls thereof,-an open front tray having one or more shelves insertible and removable 46 through the open top of said casing, provided guard strips on the front corners of said tray for preventing articles on the shelves fromsliding off the latter, and springs on said guard strips in sliding contact with the opposed wall 'of said so casing.

SYLVESTER A. LIMPER'I'.

January 2a, 1936.

SYLVESTER' LIMPERT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed the above numbered patent] requiring correction as follows: column, line 46, claim 9, for "provided" read pivoted; and Letters Patent should be read with this correction there-in specification of Page 5, second that the said that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

(Seal) Signed and sealed this 18th day of February, A; D. 1956'.

. Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Patent no. 2,029,175.

contents of which can be easily gotten at by mere- 1 y raising the lid H; and at the same time when the lid is closed, the article has the appearance of a simplepiece of furniture in the nature of a chest which can also be utilized as a seat. The insulation of the compressor and motor, and the lining. of the walls of the machine chamber, effectually absorb all noise and vibration, so that a, visitor unacquainted with the real nature of the article would never suspect that the article was a. mechanical ice' box. The cabinet being opened from the top, prevents the cold air there in from falling .out every time the cabinet is opened, which makes for greater economy.

I claim:

l. A, portable refrigerator of the character described, comprising a chest having a top lid and a transverse partition dividing the body of the chest into two compartments, refrigerant circulating means mounted in one of said compartments, and a freezing unit mounted in the other compartment and pipe connected to said circulating means, said freezing unit comprising a relatively narrow and deep box open at its top, and an ice cube tray vertically insertible and removable through the open upper end of said box.

2. A portable refrigerator of the character described, comprising a chest having a top lid and a transverse partition dividing the body of the chest into relatively small and large compartments, refrigerant circulating means mounted in said small compartment, and a freezing unit mounted in said large compartment on said partition and pipe connected to said circulating means, said freezing unit comprising a relatively narrow and deep box open at its top and having the expansion coil in a 'wall thereof, and an ice cube tray vertically insertible and removable through the open upper end of said box.

3. A portable refrigerator of the character described, comprising a rectangular chest having a top lid and a transverse partition dividing the body of the chest: into relatively small and large compartments, refrigerant circulating means mounted in said small compartment, a relatively narrow and deep freezing unit mounted in said large compartment on said partition and pipe connected to said circulating means, and a re.- movable food tray in said large. compartment fitting between the side walls of the latter.

4. A portable refrigerator of the character described, comprising a. rectangular chest having ing an open top casing equipped with means for a top lid and a transverse partition dividing the body of the chest into relatively small and large compartments, refrigerant circulating means mounted in said small compartment, a relatively narrow and deep freezing unit mounted in said 5 large compartment on said partition and pipe connected to said circulatingmeans, and a removable food. tray in said large compartment fitting between the side walls of the latter, the combined widths of said freezingunit and food tray being substantially less'than the length of said large compartment.

5. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, comprising an open top casing equipped with refrigerant flow means in a wall thereof, a tray insertible and removable through the open top of said cas- 1 ing, and spring means pressing said tray against said casing wall.

6. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, comprising an open top casing having a refrigerating g0 coil in a side wall thereof, a tray insertible and I removable through the open top of said casing, and springs between the opposite side wall of said casing and the tray pressing the latter into contact with said first named side wall. 7. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, comprising an open top casing equipped withmeans for cooling the walls thereof, an open front tray having oneor more shelves insertible and removable through the open top of said casing, and shiftable guards on the open front of said tray for preventing articles on the shelves from sliding off the latter. Y

8. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, compriscooling the walls thereof; an open front tray having one or more shelves insertible and removable through the open top of said casing, pivoted guard strips on the front corners of said tray for preventing articles 'on the shelves from sliding 40 off the latter. I

9. A freezing unit for a refrigerator, comprising an open top casing equipped with means for cooling the walls thereof,-an open front tray having one or more shelves insertible and removable 46 through the open top of said casing, provided guard strips on the front corners of said tray for preventing articles on the shelves fromsliding off the latter, and springs on said guard strips in sliding contact with the opposed wall 'of said so casing.

SYLVESTER A. LIMPER'I'.

January 2a, 1936.

SYLVESTER' LIMPERT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed the above numbered patent] requiring correction as follows: column, line 46, claim 9, for "provided" read pivoted; and Letters Patent should be read with this correction there-in specification of Page 5, second that the said that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

(Seal) Signed and sealed this 18th day of February, A; D. 1956'.

. Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

